Flora, Fauna and Founders enrich school curricula

Building on the success of a pilot programme involving lost wax casting with A-level students in 2024, the Founders’ Charities have recently completed a second and broader phase of this programme involving three separate secondary schools in London.

A regional inter-schools competition featuring “Flora and Fauna under threat in London” provided the framework for students to develop a unique wax model of a species they felt could be highlighted in a bronze sculpture.

With the support and facilities of Chelsea College of Art, (UAL) the new project involving five Design and Technology students from each of the three London schools launched in January this year. The students not only created the wax but also produced an additively manufactured replica of the wax from data scans developed by the College. 

With a full story board describing their design and the manufacturing process, as well as witnessing the casting process and then finishing their cast bronzes, these elements were then combined in an Open Exhibition of the work at Founders Hall in May. A panel of judges then reviewed the students work and awarded prizes to both students and the winning school.

This Founders project, co-ordinated by Bernie Rickinson, stems from earlier support of a community art programme entitled “Lost Wax for Lost Species” and seeks to provide a more complete understanding of metal processing techniques within the A level Design and Technology curricular.  Importantly, A level examiners have noted that students understanding of metal processing techniques can be rather limited, due to the absence of appropriate practical facilities within school workshops.  

Reflecting on the quality of the students work and the overall project experience, the school staff highlighted the unique learning experience that was achieved within such a short period of time, and importantly how the programme had been arranged to integrate into the students existing programme of study.

 Discussions are now planned to assess how the same format could provide an opportunity to organise and simultaneously deliver other Flora and Fauna regional competitions in London and elsewhere in the UK.

Examples of the students work are presently showcased at Founders Hall and we would encourage all to view this display when visiting the Hall.